I Thought It Was a Healing Farming Game - Chapter 29

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I thought this was supposed to be a healing farming game.
Chapter 29

I accepted the cup with both hands and drained it in one go.
The moment the milk touched my tongue, my eyes went wide.
Even though it had been chilling in the cold room, it tasted as fresh as if it had just been drawn.
Small flecks of Butter caught between my teeth, adding a rich, savory depth to the flavor.
“It’s delicious!”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“These tiny bits of Butter are crunchy, and so rich, so flavorful! It’s so fresh!”
Watching me bounce on my toes, Day laughed along, catching my excitement.
“Buttermilk aged cold is even more delicious.”
“But won’t I blow through my whole paycheck at the dairy?”
“Oh, you!”
Her hand came down on my arm with a warm slap, full of affection.
“Save the sweet talk for later. Now it’s time to make the real thing—Butter.”
“Yes!”
“Scrape all the Butter stuck to the machine and collect it into one lump.”
I plunged my hands into the large machine and worked loose the heavy, solidified Butter.
“Now gather the Butter together and squeeze it hard to press out the remaining Buttermilk.”
Following her instructions, I wrung the Butter lump as if it were a cloth, squeezing with all my might.
“Now rinse it in cold water, let it harden, then pat it into shape with a flat wooden paddle.”
Day worked the Butter with practiced precision, patting it into a neat square in moments.
“Finally, press it into the mold to chill, and… Butter-making is done!”
Day finished her demonstration, pressing the Butter firmly into the mold as she spoke.
“Though if a special order comes in, the method changes a little.”
“A special order?”
“You don’t need to worry—you’ll only be making plain Butter.”
“What kind of special orders?”
“Orders where they want flavoring added to the Butter—salt, or herbs like thyme, lemon, or dill.”
“Wow… You take custom orders?”
“For regular customers, sometimes. But usually it’s bakeries or taverns that request them. Next time there’s a chance, I’ll show you how.”
“Yes, I’d love that!”
As she explained, I followed her movements and finished shaping my own Butter.

[Day Farm Butter]

I wrapped the Butter in packaging that featured a photo of Day and one of her cows, then attached a label with the production date.
Once I cooled the Butter in the chilling room and packaged it, there was nothing left for me to do.
“That’s all there is to it. You remember everything?”
I ran through what I’d learned today, step by careful step.
After recounting the Buttermilk separation and Butter-wrapping process in order, Day gave me a thumbs up.
“Passed! Starting tomorrow, come every other day. Nine in the morning to one in the afternoon. Does that work?”
“Absolutely. I’ll work hard!”
I had passed. My feet felt light enough to fly as I headed home.
‘In a way, this is my first real job, isn’t it?’
The moment I pushed open the door to Siard’s House, his eyes met mine as he was coming out toward the entrance.
“You’ve returned?”
“Siard! I got the job at the dairy!”
Bursting with excitement, I ran toward him and grabbed both his hands.
“I passed! I can start working tomorrow!”
Still holding his hands, I bounced up and down, and Siard smiled gently.
“Congratulations. Are you this pleased?”
“Of course! It’s regular work.”
After bouncing around for a while, I finally came to my senses and let go of his hands.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I just got so excited……”
“It’s quite all right.”
Siard smiled without a trace of displeasure.
“Good news should be celebrated together, after all.”
I felt a sudden embarrassment and cleared my throat.
“Ahem, well, I start work tomorrow morning. Nine in the morning until one in the afternoon.”
“That’s wonderful. But no matter how busy you become, you mustn’t neglect your health.”
Siard gently arranged my hair.
I laughed a little foolishly, but answered with confidence.
“Of course! I’ll exercise and eat plenty of vegetables!”
That evening, I added Seasoned Fatsia Shoots to the side dishes.
It was a bit different from Siard’s usual menu selections, but it served well enough as a kind of salad on the side.
Once my life had settled into some stability, other desires began creeping up from within.
‘I want to eat rice! Real rice!’
The meals here were naturally luxurious and delicious.
But now that Seasoned Fatsia Shoots had appeared, I found myself craving a bowl of pristine white rice with desperate longing.

The next day, I hurried through the Grocery Store as soon as dawn broke.
‘Fish, vegetables, spice sections…….’
I passed shelves of various doughs and flours, and at the very end of the aisle, I found the rice.
“Rice!”
I dashed toward it faster than I ever had before.
When I spotted a five-kilogram sack, I checked the price tag with joy in my heart.

10 Gold.

For the first time since arriving on Node, my smile vanished from my face.
“Five kilos of rice…… for 10 Gold?”
It was absurd. Even for a small island where no one grows rice, the price was outrageous.
‘I can’t afford this…… I’ll have rice later.’
If it had been 5 Gold, I might have deliberated. But 10 Gold was simply too much.
‘Or maybe I could plant rice next time? Try to catch a gap in the market?’
As I was mulling this over seriously, a familiar and hearty voice called down from above my head.
“What’s this? A full-grown squirt thinking about buying rice?”
It was Tom, the man from the General Store, his muscular arms laden with goods.
“Oh! Hello! You work here too?”
“As you can see, the shop’s been swamped, so I’ve been lending a hand. But are you really trying to buy rice? Now’s when it’s at its most expensive. Why don’t you wait for the Trade Ship?”
“The Trade Ship?”
“That’s when the stock is highest and the prices are lowest. Right now, everyone who could afford to has already bought their fill, so of course it’s dear.”
“I see. Thanks for the tip, sir!”
Following the man’s kind advice, I resolved to wait for the Trade Ship that arrived on the island every Wednesday.
‘I can’t wait. The Trade Ship.’
When the Trade Ship came, the Night Market would open, and there would be special events and games to enjoy.
‘Should I save up a little spending money for then?’
I wasn’t in a position to spend my earnings carelessly, but I’d worked hard all this time, so surely I could indulge myself just a little on that one day.
And in just a few more days, I’d be able to attend the Village Meeting.
Just thinking about it made my heart flutter. It meant I would finally see the twins in person.
‘All right. I’ll put off the rice for now and go check on the Vegetable Garden first!’
I hurried toward the Vegetable Garden, curious to see the twins’ mansion along the way.
“……This is…….”
I confirmed the name [Miel] written on the wooden sign in front of the Vegetable Garden more than once.
“Is this really my field?”
I muttered to myself.
It seemed like only yesterday I’d been delighted to see the sprouts emerging, yet somehow the tender seedlings had already grown into sturdy stalks.
Some of the plants had even begun to form flower buds.
Seeing crops actually grow at this pace on Node struck me as nothing short of miraculous.
‘This is the mystery of life itself…….’
Watching the small, delicate sprouts shoot up day by day, I felt my heart swell naturally with emotion.
At this rate, I’d have no trouble gathering the deposit I needed.
‘Wait for me, 1000 Gold!’
Gazing at the thriving Vegetable Garden, I burned with resolve.

* * *

After checking on the Vegetable Garden, my feet felt lighter as I made my way toward the dairy.
‘All right, let’s make the most of this energy and do well at the part-time job.’
Walking with such enthusiasm, I arrived at the dairy about ten minutes earlier than scheduled.
People were already bustling about at this early hour.
Day spotted me the moment I appeared and greeted me warmly.
“You’ve come, Miel.”
“Good morning!”
“So lively from the start. That’s exactly what I like to see. Come here.”
Day introduced me to the two other employees working with her.
“This is Miel. She’s just joined us as the new Butter specialist. Since she’s new, please help her out.”
“Of course.”
“Nice to meet you.”
I shook hands with both of them in turn.
Neither of them seemed uncomfortable or hostile toward me.
‘This feels promising.’

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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